Discover the hidden gems of Leeds: Alcohol-free edition

Leeds is one of the best cities in the UK when it comes to drinking activities; however, not everybody wants an alcoholic drink. They don’t want to do a pub crawl and drink non-alcoholic drinks for 6–8 hours. That isn’t something that they will usually call fun.

Luckily for them, there are many things to do in and around Leeds that allow you to have fun without the alcoholic booze. It is a city of fun that won’t break the bank either so let’s look at some of the best things to do in Leeds.

Depot climbing

First is depot climbing, and this is one of the best activities that you can do to pass some time and have fun with friends. Additionally, it is really good for your fitness so you don’t need to worry about going to the gym that day. For those who have never been climbing before, Depot Climbing is one of the best climbing centres to visit for beginners. They have instructor-led sessions that allow you to enjoy it with a group of friends. If you are a well-experienced climber, then they have something for you as well with their adult coaching sessions. Depot climbing is a great activity that doesn’t include any alcohol so it is the perfect replacement and an excellent activity to enjoy with friends and family.

Consider crocheting

For those who love crafting, Leeds Crochet Club is the perfect place to go. This is one where you can choose to go with friends or go alone and make new friends while you are there. It is the perfect place for relaxing but also putting your skills to the test. Leeds Crochet Club has three hour-long sessions where you can perfect your craft and practise special techniques. Then once you have finished the class, you get to take what you have crafted back home with you as a memory. It is a great hobby where you can meet new people and improve your skills so consider this when you are not drinking alcohol.

Improve your cooking skills

If you live alone at home, you have probably learnt about the basics of cooking. However, some people don’t have the urge to learn about cooking and will stick to basic oven food with the odd vegetables here and there. However, if cooking is a passion of yours, perfecting your skills in a cooking class may be a great activity for you to do alone or with your friends. Something else that you can do is learn how to run a kitchen with Simon Chappelow. That will have you cooking with home-grown foods from Yorkshire but you can explore other cuisines as well. The variety of dishes they offer with their cooking classes is nothing but spectacular. Not to mention they teach you how to hold a knife so you can chop away, just as quick as a chef on television. It is the perfect activity for not drinking and is something that is certainly worth doing if you love cooking.

Escape rooms

Up next are escape rooms and this is something that you may not have done before; however, they are very trendy at the moment. You may think this is something that you should do around the Halloween period; however, this is an activity that you can do all year round. This activity is perfect with friends and family and everyone will enjoy it. In the escape rooms, you have the task of finding clues to help you escape while also being set a timer. Furthermore, there is no game that is similar to the other so what might have worked in the previous escape room may not work in the next if you choose to do multiple. This is a great day out and something that will have your face aching from the laughter.

Munch on street food at Trinity Kitchen

Trinity Kitchen offers a range of flavours with fun street food so if you consider yourself a foodie, this may be one to tick off in Leeds. These marvellous flavours will help you forget about drinking and ensure you have a full stomach by the time you leave. There are various cuisines that you can try so there are foods for everyone.

Go back in time with a classic arcade

There is something nostalgic about visiting an arcade, especially when you are over the age of twenty. An arcade is something where you can enjoy playing retro games that you played when you were younger. You even have the basic machines, such as 2P machines, where you hope more 2Ps will drop at the end. Then you have the dance machines in which you and your friends would dance together for hours to your favourite classic songs. All of these memories that didn’t seem too long ago, which you will cherish forever. Well, you can relive some of those memories with one of the largest arcades in Europe, the Arcade Club.
 
What is great about this wonderful arcade is that you can pay a one-off fee where you can enjoy three floors of classical retro games that you played when you were younger. You can spend hours on end where it is the perfect place to spend most of your day. So, if you are ever looking for something to do to kill a few hours, consider this marvellous arcade with your friends.

To conclude

Leeds is a wonderful city and one that many people will enjoy, whether they are drinking or not; however, if you are a student or young adult in the city centre, you are spoilt with alcohol-free activities. Leave your Car Park in Leeds as well to leave your vehicle so you don’t need to worry about public transport;
however, if you don’t have a vehicle, public transport is very good in the city so getting from A to B shouldn’t be a problem for you.

By Lucy Couser

Lucy is a freelance writer who finished her degree in creative writing in Manchester. She loves to talk and share her experiences with alcohol, top tips and healthier fun alternatives for the sober community. You can find her substack here!